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Monthly Archives: January 2010

LONDON – Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez called Friday apologized to fans of the club for the poor run of play and team results, which on Wednesday was eliminated from the FA Cup by second division (Reading) and is seventh in the Premiership table, away from the posts of Champions.

Spanish coach appeared before the press and read a letter he brought to state that “we’re not playing well and everyone here feels for our fans.

In his line of not lower his arms despite the poor performance, Benitez believes that “things can change in football” and said “we are confident we can improve, starting with the match against Stoke on Saturday.

Eliminated in the preliminary stage of the UEFA Champions League and out of the FA Cup, a tournament of great prestige in England, the main objective of the Reds at the moment is to finish among the top four teams in the league, a goal that Benitez believes the hand despite the bad image that is giving your computer.

In the absence of 18 days, Liverpool is seventh in the standings, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, Chelsea, 10, who leads the standings of the Premier.

The team has been very uneven in their play and has been plagued by injuries, the latest from Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the spine of the team, which will be a few weeks in dry dock after being injured in the final match of Copa .

The elimination at home (1-2) against Reading, a team struggling in the lower area of the English second division, has filled the patience of fans among some sectors and among former players, who have spoken in favor of the motion Benitez.

Never before has there been such opposition against the Spanish, who joined the team in 2004 and has since managed the Reds to the Champions and FA Cup.

In his appearance before the media, Benitez admitted that “this is the wrong time” and said the possibility of improving involves “win on the field, something that will come if it continues to train well.

Asked about his future on the sidelines of Anfield Road, said: “If I was worried about his status for the club’s future at this point, lose my concentration.” Stoke is the most important game now and we have to prepare well. ”

“I can not be worried about other things. My future is now the Stoke” he said.

“Things are not going well, we know, but if I lose time talking about all these things all the time, I will lose my concentration and will become worse. I do not need guarantees of anything. I promise that I am preparing for the next game , and the football things can change in a week, “he added.

In addition, Benitez faces the difficulty of improving the squad in the midst of economic problems and while the club’s American owners seek 100 million pounds ($ 163 million) from new investors.

The need for new players was reflected on Wednesday. After the joy over the signing of Argentine Maxi Rodriguez, Liverpool suffered injuries to Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun in the defeat against Reading in the second division for the FA Cup.

Torres will have surgery on his right knee and will be sidelined for six weeks.

Babel is a player that Liverpool is willing to sell. 23 year old Dutchman wrote in his Twitter account that “the boss put me out of the call. Without explanation.

After news leaked that Babel had not been summoned Benitez complained in a press conference that it is “impossible to avoid people talking, it’s not like before.”

“It’s more than just football,” Benitez said. “There are agents, money, television, radio and Internet, and everybody wants to talk, they all have Twitter or something like that.”

About an hour after the conference Benitez Babel returned to writing on Twitter to complain about the lack of play.

“What happened after a good first season,” he asked the player. “I scored 10 goals, was the young talent of the year, and do not play anything after the second season?”.

Meanwhile, Benitez does his best to save Liverpool’s miserable season and retain the support of the owners.

Some British news media have published in recent days that the only reason that the former Valencia coach remains on the sidelines of Anfield is because, by extending his contract for five years, signed last season, say goodbye Liverpool would cost 22 million euros.

LONDON – Rafael Benitez, Liverpool manager said that Argentina’s Maxi Rodriguez, new player on his team, has all the attributes necessary to succeed in the Premier League and that is a footballer “a matter” which is he looking for the Anfield club.

“We were looking for players with character and a good mentality. And Maxi is a player with personality,” said Spanish coach at Liverpool’s website.

In the view of Madrid, Maxi “can play in three positions-by the right, left or as a second striker,” and considers it “someone with a very positive mindset, which is what the club is looking for.

“(Maxi) feels comfortable with the ball, passes well and can keep possession. Arrives well in your opponent, score goals and is a good finisher. Each year marks between five and fifteen goals from the right side of midfield” he said.

Benitez admitted that Maxi “was not doing as well as it did in the past at Atletico Madrid,” but added that he “is doing very well with Argentina and want to impress to be in the World Cup.

In addition, the Liverpool manager said that Maxi will be an asset to meet his compatriot Javier Mascherano, mate selection, and the Spanish Fernando Torres, who agreed with Atletico Madrid.

“I think we will adapt to English football because it’s a very smart player and knows how to put on the field. It’s a matter of adjusting the pace of the game and need some time, but with those players (Mascherano and Torres) it will be easier for him” he said.

Benitez added: “I’ve been talking with him and is very happy to come here. I have told him what we expect of him and he is ready for the challenge.”

LONDON – Anglo-Irish legendary striker John Aldridge, former Liverpool and nature of that city, has denied having called for the resignation of coach of that team, the Spanish manager Rafael Benitez.

The comments by former striker, Aldo, demanding the departure of “Mister” Madrid appeared this week in a men’s magazine, though he says now that that story with his alleged statements is “dummy supplement.

“You can say categorically that I have never spoken with Nuts magazine,” says former player on the Liverpool website.

Aldridge says he “never” say something in relation to Benitez, adding that the Spanish coach “is already facing enough pressure and also has a difficult enough job.”

“I never said I should leave. The story is completely fictitious,” he said.

Regarding the current situation in the team, admitted as an amateur network, that “things are not so good” as they would like. “But we are just going through a rough season. That’s all.”

LONDON – Spanish international Fernando Torres, Liverpool have no doubt when he says his staff and fellow countryman, the keeper Pepe Reina, is “the best goalkeeper in the world.”

In statements made by “El Niño” to the official website of the Anfield club, he praises the talent of the goalkeeper of the template that directs the Madrid Rafa Benitez.

“As always, is making a great season. For me, right now he is the best goalkeeper in the world,” says Torres to this website.

The former Atletico Madrid and their coach remembers a talisman that “in Spain, everybody knows that (Reina) is a great goalkeeper and England there is no doubt that is the best.”

“It takes a very great level playing since joining Liverpool and has won many gold gloves, and hopefully win more this season,” said Torres.

In addition, striker believes that his teammate plays a key role in training “network”.

“Pepe is one of the most important players in the locker room. After Steven (Gerrard) and Carra (Jamie Carragher), I think he is the most important. He’s always happy and not just within the field, but also in changing” notes the Spanish.

“When you see Pepe, always happy and trying to be positive.’s A very good professional,” he says.

On the other hand, and jokingly, Torres also said that when they played in Spain, he always managed to score goals against Queen and so does, say, during practice on Liverpool.

“I always mark against him when we play in Spain. Goalkeeping was one of my favorites! We always laugh with it,” he said.

LONDON – Spanish striker Fernando Torres, Liverpool want to add more records with the jersey network in the coming years, after signing league with 50 goals faster than any other player in the history of this club.

The winning goal scored at Villa Park against Aston Villa El Nino accounted for 50 who signed both the Spanish international in 72 interventions for this team.

That record by eight games than those who had Sam Raybould and Albert Stubbins to date.

Madrid striker believes this feat one of the proudest moments in his career and hopes to be the first of many with this club.

“For me it’s incredible because Liverpool is a small club, is one of the most important and historical world,” said the player to Anfield website.

Thompson recalled that all players who have worn this shirt, “records are enormous.”

“Now I am in front of them and for me it is the most important things I’ve done throughout my career,” he said.

“I continue to set records to be always in the minds of people. I do my job and I want to keep doing that people are happy,” said the striker.

Despite injuries that have hampered the international trajectory, Torres has signed 12 goals so far this season.

Asked whether a goal has been raised as to the number of goals, players of 25 years, said it intends to make “as many as you need to get the club to fourth place in the league and to win the Cup.”

“I never say a number of goals but I always want to score more than they did last season. Hopefully this is not complicated because only scored 17 the previous season after all the injuries,” he said.

Fernando Torres believes that now is returning to fitness, because he does overtime to help the reroute Liverpool’s season.

Liverpool have struggled in the league and also was eliminated in the group stage of UEFA Champions League and have been hampered by injuries to key stars like Torres and Steven Gerrard.

However, both players have returned to action in recent weeks and, while Torres has looked below the aptitude, sometimes, the former Atletico Madrid striker is convinced that finally is overcoming the effects of injury the groin, that kept him out of six games in November and December.

“I’m fine now,” he said. “Much better than a couple of months ago. I have to keep working three, four or five hours more than the rest of the squad because I have to keep the recovery for the rest of the season.”

“One of the reasons that I am working very hard, it’s because I know that in this situation, each player Liverpool need is ready. It is a difficult time, but worth it if I want to play. I do normal training session with my teammates, but before and after the treatment I have to do exercises and gym work so my leg is strong enough. ”

“We’re doing a good job and I feel nothing wrong with my leg. I have been able to play 90 minutes in the last four games, so I’m very happy with the progression. Maybe I’ll have to do all season.”

He added: “It’s frustrating because I’ve never been injured before, not at Atletico and only a small one in my first season here. The last two seasons has been the first time I’ve had consecutive lesions.

“Whenever the computer is not the best time is frustrating if you can not help his teammates. It is very difficult to watch the matches from the stands.”

“I’m not old, but I’m not so young, so I have to watch with extra work. I know I have to work harder to play three games a week until the end of my career. I need to work harder than before.”